Closer for gates



March J. L. BRANDT 2,315,106 CLOSER FOR GATES Filed July 9, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 bf/1 i;

' Joe L.Brandt March 30, 1943. J.- L. BRANDT 2,315,106

CLOSER FOR GATES File July 9, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 30, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I I I 1 2,315,106

. CLOSER FOR GATES J e L. Brandt, Tremont, Ill. Application July 9, 1942, Serial No. 450,334

4 Claims. (C1. 16-80) This invention relates to closers for gates of the type mounted for swinging movement in opposite directions abouta vertical pivot, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which will be extremely easy to install and will automatically return the gate to a closed position when released from either of its open positions.

Another object of this invention is the pro-- vision of a device of the above stated character embodying a spring means for closing the gate and which is capable of sustaining a substantially non-variable closing force on the gate regardless of distances the gate is moved toward fully open position for assuring against too rapid or sudden closing of the gate when released.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. Y

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the gate and its mounting and equipped with a closer constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2 showing the position the parts of the present invention will take when the gate is moved into either of its open positions.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view illustrating one of the gate arms in engagement with the gate and its pivotal mounting.

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating an adjusta'ble seat for the tension spring.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates an entrance in a fence 6 opened and closed by a swinging gate 1, the gate being hinged on a post 8 of the fence 6, as shown at 9. The hinges employed for the gate will permit the latter to be swlmg in either direction to open the entrance, thus providing two open positions for the gate.

The closer constituting the present invention is especially constructed for closing the gate 1 from either of its open positions when released.

A supporting bracket I0 is mounted on the post 8 below the lowermost hinge of the gate and has pivotally mounted thereon arcuately curved arms II. The pivots for the arms are located closer to one end of said arms than the other end and said arms are equipped with rollers I2 to have riding contact with opposite sides of the gate. The arms I I are equipped with teeth I3 which are in continuous mesh with each other and the purpose of which is to cause both arms to pivot when force is applied to either of said arms by the gate.

One of the arms II has integral therewith an extension M to which is pivoted a rod I5 and a connecting link I6. The pivot of the rod I5 forms a seat for one end of a coil spring I! surrounding the rod I5. The other end of the coil spring seats against a sleeve I8 slida-ble on the rodl5 and equipped at one end with an extension I9 to which the connecting link I6 is pivoted.

A support 20 is provided for the sleeve which will permit said sleeve to have a sliding movement as well as a pivotal movement. The support 20 includes an eye 2| which loosely receives the sleeve I8 to permit the latter to pivot and slide as before mentioned. The support further includes an anchoring shank 22 adapted to be driven into the ground alongside of the fence 6.

In operation, when the gate is swung open in either direction, the arms I I follow the movement of said gate and when the gate is released, the spring I! being under tension acts on one'of the arms and as said arms are geared together, they in turn act against the gate to bring the latter into a closed position. When the device is assembled on the gate, the spring I! is placed under tension so that it will act to close the gate whenever the latter is in an open position and released.

To prevent the spring I! from being excessively compressed by the gate moving into an open posi-- tion, the connecting link I6 being connected to one of the arms I I will cause the sleeve I8 to slide on the rod I5. This sliding movement of the sleeve is sufiicient to prevent excessive compressing of the spring. However, the spring is under sufiicient tension to bring about closing of the gate when released from an open position. The sleeve I8 sliding on the rod I5 by the action of the link I6 on the opening movement of the gate prevents excessive compressing of the spring, consequently the spring when acting to close the gate will not move the latter rapidly or suddenly into a closed position.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a closer for a swinging gate, pivotally mounted arms to engage opposite sides of the gate, means connecting said arms whereby movement of one arm by the gate will impart movement to the other arm, and a tension means acting on one of said arms for closin the gate.

2. In a closer for a swinging gate, pivotally mounted arms engaging opposite sides of the gate, intermeshing teeth formed on said arms whereby movement of one arm by the gate will impart movement to the other arm, an extension formed on one of said arms, a rod pivoted to said exten-.. sion, a sleeve slidable on said rod, a tension spring mounted on said rod and bearing against said sleeve, means connecting said sleeve to: said ex-v means connecting said arms whereby movement of one arm by the gate will impart movement to the other arm, an extension formed on one of said arms, a rod pivoted to said extension, a sleeve slidable on said rod, a coil spring mounted on said rod and bearing against said sleeve and under a determined tension, a. connecting link joining said sleeve to said extension, and means pivotally and slidably supporting the sleeve.

4 In a closer for a swinging gate, pivotally mounted arms engaging opposite sides of the gate, means connecting sai arms whereby movement of one arm by the gate will impart movement to the other arm, an extension formed on one of said arms, a rod pivoted to said extension, a sleeve slidable on said rod, a coil spring mounted on said rod'and bearing against said sleeve and under a predetermined tension, a connecting link joining said sleeve to said extension, and a. support including an eye slidably and pivotally receiving said sleeve and provided with an anchor shank adapted to be driven into the ground.

JOE L. BRANDT. 

